Pujols homer, pitching leads Angels past M's 2-0

Los Angeles Angels' Albert Pujols (5) is greeted by Angels' Mike Trout (27) after Pujols hit a home run Tuesday, April 8, 2014, during a baseball game against the Seattle Mariners in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) (Ted S. Warren, AP)

SEATTLE — Albert Pujols homered for the second straight game while Garrett Richards and two relievers combined on one-hitter as the Los Angeles Angels beat the Seattle Mariners 2-0 on Wednesday night.

On the day the Angels lost Josh Hamilton for potentially up to two months to injury, Pujols provided the biggest blow. He hit a two-run homer in the third off Seattle starter Roenis Elias (0-1). That was all the offense the Angels got, but all they needed with how Richards was pitching.

Richards (2-0) threw seven shutout innings. Abraham Almonte was the only Seattle batter to reach via hit when he singled in the third inning.

Richards walked three batters and the Angels committed two errors. But Richards overcame those mistakes by striking out six.